For all y'all fans of the DR.

cyclemike4

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Sep 18, 2016
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ky
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I got a DR650 late last year and love the thing! I have 7000 miles on it. Went out today after home chores and scouted out new locations on salt river to canoe then stopped at my local doller general on the way home.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Sep 21, 2010
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I do like my 2010 450 XC-W, although I am struggling with the suspension right now
If I would have been smart enough to buy the 450 size I might have never let go of my first KTM. The 520 was Jekyll/Hyde bike. Loved it in the morning, scared of it in the afternoon. After hours of riding I was worn out wrestling the beast. It was still just a brutal and ready to put me into a tree. Too much bike for me in the woods of the east coast.

My DR never gave me any of those concerns.


I liked that bike. Was pleased it went to someone returning to riding after many years away. He was so exicited after he followed me around on a test ride.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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3,866
Location
buda texas
being a previous owner I have no doubts about what this bike will do or be . simple ,reliable , enough power along with economy to keep one riding for years . was hoping to ride it after work today but rain showed up . probably the best motor cycle ever made.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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3,866
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buda texas
already replaced mirrors from the tenure to the DR . tomorrow morning (everything conditional on the amount of rain coming down ) replacing halogen with a cyclops LED bulb. and then adding ricochet skid plate.
my next FARKLE is to replace the stock bars with a fat bar and risers (I have to capitalize or FARKLE becomes Carole ) then bark busters . have a windshield on the way.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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buda texas
replaced old bulb with the cyclops , I think it will serve . went on a ride ,the seat reminded me its in control of the ride . next purchase a new seat . have 46 miles on the bike now .
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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3,866
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buda texas
lowered the pegs with a ProCycle mount that moved them done and back .... adjusted foot controls and then added a Madstad bracket and windshield . not bad for a Saturday morning.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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buda texas
Seirra1 ,, I see by your expression some concern about windshield size .... lol.... me too... my initial test ride says it will give me great wind protection . it will fold down to a low position were it is out of the way for off road (off paved roads ) riding. it was very easy to mount and is very well made . I might have to order the windshield one size smaller for optimal use. I picked this one according to the company guidelines . in fully up position I can see over but just barely ... should help my posture as I will have to sit up straight .
 

cyclemike4

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Sep 18, 2016
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831
Location
ky
lowered the pegs with a ProCycle mount that moved them done and back .... adjusted foot controls and then added a Madstad bracket and windshield . not bad for a Saturday morning.
I moved my foot pegs down and back like you did. I also cut one inch out of my shift lever and rear brake lever too so they would fit my feet after the peg move. I put a little clip on visor on top of my head light plastic plate. It works really well for me. Talk about a rush of air stuffing up your helmet off that head light with out something on there. I didn't like that! I built a bracket and mounted some L.E.D. lights from tractor supply under my head light. I have them wired to my high beam so they come on with that. I am about to start some spring changes. I really don't mind the soft springs on the road. Very nice ride but anything off road it is bottoming out on tiny hits. I hope to make it a little better for exploring and not ruin the road ride. All in all I am very pleased with this bike. I am splitting a lot of time between this bike and my Super T.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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3,866
Location
buda texas
the biggest pain in the ass (besides the seat ) is the carb jetting . going to order soon a jet kit , off idle stumble is pronounced and I think dangerous.
riding down the highway at speed (60 mph or so ) the engine is what I remember , it will do the job . and from experience it will get better at break in , about 2500 miles it could be more or less . there is a profound change for the better .
 

magic

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Jul 6, 2015
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WISCONSIN
the biggest pain in the ass (besides the seat ) is the carb jetting . going to order soon a jet kit , off idle stumble is pronounced and I think dangerous.
riding down the highway at speed (60 mph or so ) the engine is what I remember , it will do the job . and from experience it will get better at break in , about 2500 miles it could be more or less . there is a profound change for the better .
Do some research before you order a jet kit. May I suggest DRRiders as a good forum with lots of great info. There are several ways to go with the carb setup.
 

cyclemike4

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Sep 18, 2016
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ky
Yes the jetting really sucked on that bike. that is the first thing I changed on it. I have the fuel screw out at one and a half turns i think. It has the stock 42.5 pilot jet still in it. I tried a 145 main then went to a 150. I did drill another hold in the slide but I didn't trim any off my return spring on the slide. I changed the needle too but can't remember the number on it. I have it set on the 4th clip. it is just a tad shorter than the stock needle and a lot more taper on it. I did take the snorkel out of the air box but there was no reason to cut holes in the air box that I could see. I also have a Lexx slip on muffler. I have to say this is one of the best running motorcycles i have owned in a long time after these changes. Probably as good as any i have ever owned. Of course it is a low rpm thumper and it can only do what it can do. Still if feels good when things are right no matter how much horse power it makes. It will keep up with traffic no problems and still get mid 50's on fuel mileage. Of course if you have owned previous DR's im sure you have all that carb stuff in the back of your mind as well. Oh yea the newer ones have a air injection pump on them. I did build a block off plate and got that off the bike. It did change the way it runs just a bit but the best thing it decels much better without that on there. I kept thinking it was going to blow my muffler clean off with the way it popped on decel. Yes it is a DR and it is going to have decel pop but that was not good for anything. It shook the bike at times with that on there. Enjoy! It isn't a Super T and it isn't supposed to be but it is fun!
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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buda texas
I look forward to rejetting it , not going to put up with that stumble .... the air injection pump is the only new feature I can see on this DR over my 2009 . pros and cons about removing or leaving it on .... ? not familiar with it . but I can squeeze a hose and feel the pulsing.
 

cyclemike4

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Sep 18, 2016
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Location
ky
The air injection system is to help burn off excess fuel in the exhaust when the throttle is chopped closed on carb bikes. When there is a lot of manofold vacuum the valve is held closed and no air is pulled into the exhaust. When the throttle is closed the manafold vacuum is dropped the air valve opens and the exhaust pulls in air to burn off fuel. No real advantage or disadvantage to the rider unless it fails. I had these fail on bikes i had in the 80s and they gave me fits trying to figure out why they ran so bad. On the DR it caused the thing to pop so loud and hard it would make the whole bike shake. No real reason to take it off. I just wanted to. Also one less thing to fail if im a long way from home.
 
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